The Japanese government has confirmed the release of all four Japanese nationals captured by Islamic rebels two months ago in Kyrgyzstan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki said Monday.
The top government spokesman said the four Japanese -- mining engineers Nobuhisa Nakajima, 49, Hirotaro Fujii, 47, Haruo Harada, 38 and Toshiaki Ariie, 58 -- were handed over to Japanese officials in Karamyk, southern Kyrgystan, in good health.
Aoki said the Japanese government did not pay ransom for the hostages, adding that he believes the Kyrgyz government did not pay ransom either.
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